Steps to Get Your Resume Past ATS

Here are some of the key features of ATS (Applicant Tracking System):

• Resume Parsing: Resume parsing is a type of feature where it keeps all the important details like contact information and other details of a potential job seeker. It helps in calculating the resume ATS score and boosts ATS resume optimization.

• Matching Keywords: Suppose if the job needs a certain skill set then the ATS system scans the resume and checks if your resume matches the skill set by scanning the keywords mentioned in your resume. For example, if you're applying for a marketing job, it scans your resume if your resume has marketing-related keywords. This is where your resume ATS score plays a key role.

• Interview Scheduling: If any potential job seeker's resume gets selected, then the ATS system automatically schedules an interview with the potential job seeker, according to the time and availability of the recruiter and the job seeker. Based on your ATS resume optimization, your profile might be prioritized.

• Posting Jobs: If there is a need to post a job on multiple platforms like LinkedIn or other specific job recruiting platforms, then it posts jobs with needed details about the company and the potential employee they are looking for with the required skill set. This function is often managed based on ATS CV matches and ATS resume score checker results.

• Candidate Database: It collects and maintains the database of selected candidates, keeping all the information stored and easy to access. This database also tracks the resume ATS score and previous CV scores of applicants for future references.

The main 7-steps to create an ATS-friendly resume are:

• Use an ATS-Friendly Resume Format: As we discussed the characteristics of ATS, it is an automatic software program. Therefore, it could be very hard, but with some tips and tricks, it could be done. The key is a readable and scannable resume like simple formatting with standard fonts, standard headings. Make sure you optimize the keywords, and do not put the content in paragraphs when sharing experiences. Instead, put it in bullet points with a maximum of 5 to 6 points per section. This is essential for a high resume ATS score and successful ATS resume optimization.

• Optimize with Keywords: Now you have heard this thing in writing blogs or while editing content—that keywords are the main part. Keywords are the words that ATS CV matches with the potential of the resume currently trending in the market. For example, if a job listing mentions “good data analytical skills,” then in your resume, the keyword should be "data analysis" and the content should revolve around it. This improves your resume ATS score and overall CV score.

• Use Standard Resume Sections: Usually, when creating a resume, a person picks a template to write it. Though you can always edit your sections separately according to the job you're applying for, a classic resume template would be: contact information, education, skills, experience, and summary. But based on your job need, you can change these subsections accordingly. Always make sure your subsection heading is not more than two to three words. This consistency helps increase your resume score and avoids confusion during the AI resume checker scan.

• Save in the Right Format: Saving in the right format is a task that’s in the job seeker's hand. You might have seen people having trouble opening a document you sent. Why does it happen? Because sometimes the doc format that your laptop supports doesn’t open on others. So, always go with general doc formats supported on most devices like Google Docs, PDF format, Word Doc, etc. These formats help preserve formatting and support higher resume ATS scores.

• Use Bullet Points for Clarity: As mentioned above, writing paragraphs could be easy, but reading a whole paragraph could be overwhelming for the recruiter. Instead, it is always advised to write your content in bullet points. For example, under the education section, you can mention your class, then divide your score, school name, and other important details in bullet points under that section. This makes it easier for AI resume checkers to scan your resume and helps improve your resume score checker result.

• Avoid Fancy Design Elements: As you know, it is a software application. Tricky things might confuse the system. This confusion could lead to your rejection. Therefore, do not try to add different elements by editing anything on Canva or other platforms for resumes. Instead, use simple formatting or pick a good resume template. Fancy designs often hurt your ATS CV performance and can drastically reduce your resume ATS score.

• Test Your Resume with ATS Checkers: Like after writing content, people check for plagiarism or AI content, similarly, you can also check your resume to see if it can surpass ATS or not. It will show the reality of your resume—if it’s keyword optimized, if there are formatting issues, or if improvements are needed. There are various platforms online that you can search for, such as AI resume checker or resume score checker, to see if your resume could surpass ATS and get a good ATS CV score.

Few tips to get a high ATS resume score:

• Always make sure that your resume is a simple formatted template—not something complex—otherwise, it could be hard for ATS to scan through your resume, and it will automatically get rejected.

• While you could also add images and tables to make your content more clear and readable, it might also confuse the ATS and prevent it from calculating a proper resume ATS score.

• After scanning through an AI resume checker, there will be an ATS score that shows your performance compared to other resumes. It will help you make your resume even better and get more noticeable to recruiters.